Empty leg flights to and from San Francisco.
Empty leg flights from San Francisco are discounted one-way private jet flights on aircraft repositioning out of San Francisco International Airport, Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport, Mineta San Jose International Airport. They typically cost 25–75% less than a standard charter. From San Francisco, an empty leg to Los Angeles on a light jet is estimated at $900–$4,300, against $3,700–$5,700 for a full charter.
| Airports | San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK), Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) |
|---|---|
| Typical saving | 25–75% below standard charter |
| Routes with most empty legs | Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Las Vegas, Aspen |
| Empty legs on the board today | 0 |
| Market | United States · prices in USD |
Which airports do San Francisco empty legs use?
San Francisco International Airport is the main private jet airport for San Francisco on this site, with 2 other airports in range.
| Airport | Codes | Longest runway | Distance to centre | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco International Airport | KSFO / SFO | 3,618 m | 18 km | Airport with GA terminal |
| Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport | KOAK / OAK | 3,206 m | 18 km | Airport with GA terminal |
| Mineta San Jose International Airport | KSJC / SJC | 3,353 m | 63 km | Airport with GA terminal |
Runway lengths and coordinates from OurAirports (OurAirports open data (public domain), 2026); straight-line distances to the city centre use Wikidata coordinates (Wikidata (CC0), 2026).
Where do empty legs from San Francisco usually go?
The corridors most likely to produce empty legs, judged by the size of the private jet market at each end, run from San Francisco to Los Angeles, New York, Miami.
Estimates below use a light jet where it can fly the sector non-stop, otherwise the smallest category that can.
| Route | Distance | Block time | Empty leg (est.) | Charter (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco to Los Angeles | 302 nm | 1h 03m | $900–$4,300 | $3,700–$5,700 |
| San Francisco to New York | 2,230 nm | 5h 41m | $7,100–$34,100 | $28,400–$45,500 |
| San Francisco to Miami | 2,251 nm | 5h 44m | $7,200–$34,400 | $28,700–$45,900 |
| San Francisco to Las Vegas | 362 nm | 1h 12m | $1,100–$5,000 | $4,200–$6,600 |
| San Francisco to Aspen | 737 nm | 2h 11m | $1,900–$9,000 | $7,700–$12,000 |
| San Francisco to Dallas | 1,286 nm | 3h 38m | $3,200–$15,000 | $12,700–$20,000 |
| San Francisco to Chicago | 1,612 nm | 4h 29m | $3,900–$18,500 | $15,700–$24,700 |
| San Francisco to Toronto | 1,967 nm | 5h 03m | $6,300–$30,300 | $25,200–$40,400 |
| San Francisco to Washington, D.C. | 2,116 nm | 5h 25m | $6,800–$32,500 | $27,100–$43,300 |
| San Francisco to Montreal | 2,204 nm | 5h 38m | $7,000–$33,800 | $28,100–$45,000 |
| San Francisco to Boston | 2,340 nm | 5h 57m | $7,500–$35,800 | $29,800–$47,700 |
Model estimate, not a quote. See how we calculate prices.
Which empty legs arrive into San Francisco?
The largest private jet markets with modelled routes into San Francisco are Los Angeles, New York, Miami, so those are the likeliest origins of an inbound empty leg.
| Route | Distance | Block time | Empty leg (est.) | Charter (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles to San Francisco | 302 nm | 1h 03m | $900–$4,300 | $3,700–$5,700 |
| New York to San Francisco | 2,230 nm | 5h 41m | $7,100–$34,100 | $28,400–$45,500 |
| Miami to San Francisco | 2,251 nm | 5h 44m | $7,200–$34,400 | $28,700–$45,900 |
| Las Vegas to San Francisco | 362 nm | 1h 12m | $1,100–$5,000 | $4,200–$6,600 |
| Aspen to San Francisco | 737 nm | 2h 11m | $1,900–$9,000 | $7,700–$12,000 |
| Dallas to San Francisco | 1,286 nm | 3h 38m | $3,200–$15,000 | $12,700–$20,000 |
| Chicago to San Francisco | 1,612 nm | 4h 29m | $3,900–$18,500 | $15,700–$24,700 |
| Toronto to San Francisco | 1,967 nm | 5h 03m | $6,300–$30,300 | $25,200–$40,400 |
| Washington, D.C. to San Francisco | 2,116 nm | 5h 25m | $6,800–$32,500 | $27,100–$43,300 |
| Montreal to San Francisco | 2,204 nm | 5h 38m | $7,000–$33,800 | $28,100–$45,000 |
| Boston to San Francisco | 2,340 nm | 5h 57m | $7,500–$35,800 | $29,800–$47,700 |
Model estimate, not a quote. See how we calculate prices.
How much does an empty leg from San Francisco cost?
A light jet empty leg from San Francisco is estimated at $900–$4,300 for a short sector and $2,100–$9,800 for a medium one.
The table models three sample distances: 300 nautical miles (about an hour in the air), 800 (about two hours) and 2,000 (five hours or more, beyond the range of the smallest categories).
| Aircraft category | 300 nm | 800 nm | 2,000 nm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | $700–$3,300 | $1,700–$7,700 | Out of range |
| Very light jet | $800–$3,100 | $1,800–$7,100 | Out of range |
| Light jet | $900–$4,300 | $2,100–$9,800 | Out of range |
| Midsize jet | $1,300–$6,000 | $2,800–$13,200 | $6,400–$30,800 |
| Super-midsize jet | $1,900–$8,300 | $3,900–$17,100 | $9,000–$39,600 |
| Heavy jet | $2,300–$11,300 | $4,500–$22,400 | $10,400–$51,800 |
| Ultra-long-range jet | $3,500–$16,500 | $6,700–$31,700 | $15,500–$72,900 |
Model estimate, not a quote. See how we calculate prices.
How do I book an empty leg from San Francisco?
Tell us your route and how flexible you are; we check the flights operators have released and confirm the one that fits.
- Send the route, dates you could travel and passenger numbers using the form below, or set up an alert.
- We check repositioning flights from licensed operators and price a standard charter for comparison.
- You choose. We confirm the flight with the operator and name the operating carrier and aircraft on the quote before you pay.
Questions about San Francisco empty legs
Which airports do empty legs from San Francisco use?
San Francisco International Airport handle most business aviation in San Francisco; San Francisco International Airport, Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport, Mineta San Jose International Airport also have general aviation terminals. The operator chooses the airport the aircraft is already at.
How much does an empty leg from San Francisco cost?
On a light jet, estimates run from $900 for a short sector of about 300 nautical miles to $9,800 for one of about 800. These are model estimates, not quotes; listed flights show the operator’s price plus our fee.
How far in advance are empty legs available?
Most appear between a few days and about two weeks before departure, because they depend on other bookings being confirmed. Some are published 24–48 hours ahead.
Can an empty leg flight be cancelled?
Yes. An empty leg exists only because of another customer’s booking. If that customer changes date or route, or cancels, the empty leg may be rescheduled or withdrawn. Refund terms are set out in your charter agreement, and consequential costs such as hotels or replacement flights are not normally covered. Check the terms before you pay. No audited industry cancellation rate is published.
Do you pay per seat or for the whole aircraft?
Almost always the whole aircraft. An empty leg on an eight-seat jet costs the same for one passenger or eight, which is why empty legs work best for groups. A few operators and apps sell single seats on selected flights; where that applies, the listing says so.
Sources
- OurAirports open data (public domain), 2026-09-20 (accessed 2026-09-20). Airport codes, coordinates, elevation and runway lengths.
- Wikidata (CC0), 2026-09-20 (accessed 2026-09-20). City-centre coordinates used for airport-to-city distances.
- Paramount Business Jets, "Private Jet Rental | Jet Cost & Hourly Rates (2026)", 2026-08 (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Amalfi Jets, "Private Jet Cost Per Hour 2026: Rates by Jet Type", 2026-06-15 (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Jetvice, "Private Jet Charter Hourly Rates 2026", 2026-09-01 (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Business Travel Executive, "Empty Legs, Empty Promises?", 2023-02-02 (accessed 2026-09-20). XO estimate that 30–50% of the charter fleet often flies empty; Victor on savings of up to 75%; Chapman Freeborn on change and cancellation risk.
- European Central Bank euro foreign exchange reference rates (via frankfurter.dev), 2026-09-18 (accessed 2026-09-20). Rates used for USD, EUR and GBP conversions.
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.
Flying from San Francisco? Tell us when.
Give us your route and dates. We will send you the empty legs that fit and a charter price for comparison.
- Licensed operators only
- Same-day replies
- Whole-aircraft pricing, no seat fees